Sela Tunnel

Sela Tunnel, across (13,700 ft) Sela Pass in India on NH 13 component of Trans-Arunachal Highway system, is an under construction highway tunnel which will ensure all-weather connectivity between Guwahati in Assam and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh state. Tunnel, which will reduce the distance between Dirang and Tawang by 10 km, has a 3 year target target completion date of Feb 2022 after the construction commenced in 2019.[1] This strategic tunnel will enhance Indian military's capabilities in combating the threat of China's Western Theater Command opposite India's eastern sector of Line of Actual Control. The project involves two tunnels one of length 1790m and another of length 475m. In addition there is a greenfield alignment to facilitate the tunnel of 12.37km where the new greenfield road will meet the existing Balipara-Chaudur-Tawang road on the Nurarang side.

Strategic importance

The tunnel which is being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) will cut the travel time from the Indian Army's IV Corps headquarter at Tezpur to Tawang by at least 10 km or 1 hour, and it will also help make the NH13 an all-weather road to access Tawang which usually gets disconnected during winter.[1] The pass itself is located at 13,700 feet,[1] but the tunnel is located at the height of 10,000 feet. BRO is also improving the road from Sangestar Tso (north of Tawang) to Bum La Pass on India-China Line of Actual Control (disputed parts of McMahon Line).[1] NH13 has been converted to 2-lane road.[1]

Status updates
  • February 2018: Project announced in 2018-19 union budget.[2]
  • February 2019: Foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tunnel to be ready in three years by Feb 2022.[3][1]
  • Sep 2019: Construction of approach road was ongoing and tunnel boring commenced by month end.[4]
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See also

References
  1. Sela tunnel construction to start soon, Business Standard, 21 Nov 2018.
  2. Sela pass tunnel, Economic Times, 1 Feb 2018.
  3. https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pm-modi-inaugurates-sela-tunnel-project-in-arunachal-pradesh-119020900558_1.html
  4. http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2019/sep/20/work-on-important-sela-tunnel-connecting-with-tawang-to-begin-by-september-end-2036434.html

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